关于《记忆传授人》的荐书演讲
［英文演讲原文］
Hello everyone，I'm Wendy.Today，I will be recommending a book called “The Giver”.
What will the world be like without colors，would you bend in the blackandwhite life？ What about music？ Personally，I can't imagine my world without it.But now，open up your minds.Try imagining people in a dark and hidden society，who couldn't feel the warmth of “love” or the fear of “death”.Do you still call them “humans”？
This book，the Giver，written by Lois Lowry，takes place in such a society.I would describe it totally against humanity，or in another way，a dystopia.All of the memories of the past were lost.People were controlled and arranged for “absolute fairness”，no one gets to choose their own path but to be chosen by the committee，no matter their job，mate，or even life.
But there are two special people.The main character，Jonas，given a different job as the Receiver of Memory，and his Mentor，the Giver.He used a special way to transfer all of the memories to Jonas.There were memories of happiness like love，colors，family，music，and warmth，but there were also memories of pain like war，hunger，and death.When Jonas found out that his father actually murdered an innocent infant without knowing it，he realized that it is time to save this fallen society.The only way to bring back people's memories is that，Jonas himself，had to escape.
I recommend this book because it leaded me towards two deep questions.Firstly，what makes a human being？ People in that society had pumping hearts，which kept them alive.But being alive doesn't only mean being physically alive.All those forgotten memories in the book，no matter happy or painful，are things we have to carry on，and not escape from.They were given and became part of our humanity.We were never perfect.Humans should have spirits and freedom unlimited on thoughts，or else，what is the difference between us，and the robots，or the puppets？
Secondly，what makes a person individual and special，what makes you “you”？ We all look different，we have different personalities，we all have what we love and hate... but that's not enough yet.What really makes ourselves “us” is our self-consciousness，it's who we really are，who we want to be，and our spirit deep inside.Jonas knew his destiny，the Giver fulfilled his destiny，but the rest of the community... Well，I won't consider them as humans or individuals.They are just living，but not being alive.
Those are the two questions “The Giver” brought to me.I hope the ones who read or will read this book can think about it，too.I am also seeking for myself as a human being and an individual.Now here's a little warning，don't ever try to create a utopia but try to make a dystopia exceptional.That's what matters the most to our society，too.Thanks to “The Giver” for leading me into a whole new world.Thank you！
我的英文演讲
［演讲译文］
大家好，我是之问。今天，我想为大家推荐一本书叫作《记忆传授人》。
如果世界失去了色彩会怎样？你会融入进只有单调的两色的生活吗？如果失去了音乐呢？我是不能忍受这样的世界的。但现在，请试着去想象一群被囚禁在一个黑暗而隐蔽的社会里，无法感受到爱的温暖与死亡的恐惧的人们。你会称他们为“人”吗？
这本由洛伊丝·劳里所著的《记忆传授人》的故事便发生在这样一个社会里。对我来说，这是一个完全违背人性且反乌托邦的社会。在这个社会里，人类曾经的记忆被遗忘了。为了“绝对的公平”，人们被控制，被安排服从。没有人有权利选择自己的路，而只拥有被“委员会”选择的命运，无论是事业，伴侣，抑或是人生。
但有两个特别的人。一个是“记忆接受者”，主人公乔纳斯，另一个是他的老师，“记忆传授人”。他用了一个神奇的方法将记忆全部转移给乔纳斯。这些记忆溢满着幸福，比如爱、色彩、家庭、音乐和温暖。但同时也饱含痛苦，就像战争、饥荒与死亡。当乔纳斯发现自己的父亲谋杀了一个无辜的婴儿，却不理解自己的所作所为时，他决定拯救这个堕落的社会。而能让记忆重新回归人们的唯一办法却是，乔纳斯必须逃离这个被囚禁的地方。
这本书引发我思考两个值得深思的问题。第一个，是什么使人成为“人”？在书里的人们与我们一样，拥有能够维持生命的，活蹦乱跳的小心脏。但仅仅维持生命是不能被称作活着的。所有被遗忘的记忆，无论是幸福的还是痛苦的，都是我们需要背负而非逃避的事。它们是被给予的，渐渐沦为了人性的一部分。我们从来不是完美的。人应当拥有灵魂与思想上的自由，否则，我们与机器人，或是傀儡，有什么区别？
第二个问题，是什么让一个人独立而特别，是什么使你成为“你”？我们都有不同的长相，不同的性格，不同的爱好…… 但这还不够。真正让我们成为自己的是“自我意识”，是我们的本我，真正想成为的那个自我，与内心深处的灵魂。乔纳斯明白他的命运，“记忆传授人”履行了他的职责，但对于那个社会剩下的人来说…… 我不会称他们为“人”或是“个体”。他们只是生存着，但却没有活着。
我希望读过和即将读这本书的人也能够思考《记忆传授人》为我带来的这两个问题。作为一个“人”和“个体”，我也在寻找自己。在最后给大家一个“温馨提示”，永远不要去试着创造一个“乌托邦”，而要努力使一个“反乌托邦”的社会更加美好而完整。这也是对我们的社会非常重要的事。感谢《记忆传授人》把我带领进了一个从未探索过的新世界。谢谢大家！
2017年4月
